If You want the full story.
Reuters article in full:
-------------------------------------------
By Gideon Long
ROME, May 11 (Reuters)(DS) - Italian police fired tear gas at Lazio supporters staging a protest on Thursday against a refereeing decision wich fans claim has ruined the club's chances of winning the league title.
At least three people were injured and police detained a handful of about 1,000 supporters outside the headquarters of
the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in central Rome. One fan's coat caught fire after he was hit by a tear gas cannister.
The protest was against a decision by referee Massimo De Santis in Sunday's Serie A match between league leaders Juventus
and Parma.
De Santis disallowed a late header from Parma's Fabio Cannavaro which would have levelled the match at 1-1 with only
seconds to play. Television replays suggested the goal shouldhave stood.
If it had, Lazio, who won 3-2 at Bologna on the same afternoon, would have drawn level with Juventus at the top of the league with one round to play.
As it is, Juventus remain two points clear and can win the title if they win at Perugia in their final match, regardless of how Lazio fare in their home tie against Reggina.
If Juve draw and Lazio win, the championship will be decided in a play-off between the two sides.
The protest started peacefully as Lazio fans unfurled a series of huge banners scrawled on lengths of wallpaper.
"Juventus fans -- history repeats itself -- the more you steal, the more you win," read one.
Another banner berated De Santis and Juve's hawkish general manager Luciano Moggi, who has brushed off the outcry over the referee's decision and suggested Lazio are simply bad losers.
"De Santis, champion of Italy," it read ironically.
One man stood in front of the FIGC headquarters wearing a full length sandwich board covered in mock obituary notices.
"May 7, 2000, football died, killed by a referee who is a lackey of Juventus," the notices read.
NAZI SALUTE
As the protest continued it became more tense. Every so often, someone from the crowd would throw an orange, a beer can or a bottle at the bank of policemen guarding
the FIGC building.
Many Lazio fans, notorious in Italy for their far-right sympathies, sang fascist anthems and gave the Nazi salute.
When the police finally edged forward in a tentative effort to disperse the crowd, they were hit by a barrage of oranges.
Police then charged protesters and fired tear gas at body height forcing fans, reporters and several passers-by to escape
down side streets.
By 4:30 p.m. (1430 GMT), three hours after the protest began, order had been largely restored but groups of disgruntled fans still marched down streets surrounding the FIGC building as police helicopters circled overhead.
De Santis' decision has caused uproar in Italy, where Juventus, 25 times Italian champions, have long been both
admired and hated for their success.
Many fans feel Juve are given an easy ride by referees and some allege this is because the club is run by the Agnelli family, which owns the Fiat automobile empire and is
arguably the most powerful clan in Italy.
Lazio , owned by food company magnate Sergio
Cragnotti, have won the league title just once, in 1974.
They lost out to AC Milan by a single point on the final day
of last season's Serie A title race.
--------------------------------------------
Ciao.
[This message has been edited by Glen (edited 12-05-2000).]